WO2009006589A1

WO2009006589A1 - Tag with attaching band and crimping ring and related method

Info

Publication number: WO2009006589A1
Application number: PCT/US2008/069191
Authority: WO
Inventors: William J. Cooper
Original assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation; Lamarque, Robert
Priority date: 2007-07-05
Filing date: 2008-07-03
Publication date: 2009-01-08

Abstract

An attaching band and related system and method including a tag, a looped cord that is coupled to the tag, and a crimpable ring that is slidably mounted on the looped cord.

Description

TAG WITH ATTACHING BAND AND CRIMPING RING AND RELATED

METHOD

CROSS-REFERNCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

[0001] Priority is claimed to United States Provisional Patent Application No.

60/948, 165, filed on July 5, 2007, entitled "Tag with Attaching Band and Crimping Ring," by William J. Cooper and Robert Lamarque, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to tags. More specifically, the invention relates to a tag that utilizes a looped cord and a ring that can be crimped to tighten to secure the looped cord around a product, and a related method.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Products such as sunglasses require a system to attach price and/or security tags whereby the tags are firmly and securely attached to the products. The system has to be non-damaging to the product. A sticky tag, for example, leaves residue and damages the product. Further, the system has to be non-intrusive, i.e., when a customer is examining the product at the point of purchase, the customer has to have the freedom to examine and test the product with minimal intrusion and hindrance from the tag and the system attaching the tag to the product. The present invention satisfies these needs. - ? -

SUMMARY

[0004] The present invention includes an attaching band and a method to attach a tag or a label (henceforth referred to as tag) to a product. An exemplary embodiment is an attaching band that includes a tag, a looped cord that is coupled to the tag, and a crimpable ring that is slidably mounted on the looped cord.

[0005] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the looped cord includes a filament or a string. Also, the looped cord can be made of plastic.

[0006] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the tag includes a radio frequency identification ("RFID") device. The looped cord can be made of an electrically conductive material, the RFID device can include an antenna, and the looped cord can constitute at least part of the antenna.

[0007] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the RFID device has an electrical characteristic when the looped cord is coupled to the tag. The looped cord is configured to be separated from the tag. The RFID device has another electrical characteristic after the looped cord is separated from the tag.

[0008] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the RFID device has an electrical characteristic when the looped cord is coupled to the tag. The looped cord is configured to be cut. The RFID device has another electrical characteristic after the looped cord is cut.

[0009] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the tag is a dual security tag that includes an RFID device and an electronic article surveillance ("EAS") system. Also, the tag can include a molded plastic housing that encloses an RFID device and an EAS system.

[0010] Another exemplary embodiment is a system including an attaching band and a reader. The attaching band includes a tag, a looped cord, and a crimpable ring. The tag includes an RFID device having an antenna, and the RFID device has an electrical characteristic. The looped cord is coupled to the tag, is made of an electrically conductive material, and constitutes at least a part of the antenna. The crimpable ring is slidably mounted on the looped cord. The reader is configured to sense a change in the electrical characteristic of the RFID device, and to generate, after sensing the change in the electrical characteristic of the RFID device, an audible signal, an alarm, a visual signal, a warning light, a colored warning light, a message, and/or a text message.

[0011] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the change in the electrical characteristic of the RFID device occurs as a result of an action selected from the group consisting of cutting the looped cord and separating the looped cord from the tag. [0012] An exemplary method according to the invention is a method for attaching a tag that is part of an attaching band to a product. The method includes providing the attaching band that includes the tag, a looped cord that is coupled to the tag, and a crimpable ring that is slidably mounted on the looped cord; providing the product where the product has a narrowing area; sliding the looped cord over the product until the looped cord is adjacent to the product's narrowing area; sliding the crimpable ring towards the product's narrowing area until the looped cord is configured into a tight loop around the narrowing area; and crimping the crimpable ring closed.

[0013] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the method further includes providing a crimping device, wherein the crimping device is used to perform the step of crimping the crimpable ring closed. Also, the product can be a pair of glasses, and the narrowing area can be a hinge of the pair of glasses or a nose rest of the pair of glasses. In addition, the pair of glasses can be a pair of sunglasses. Furthermore, the tag can include a radio frequency identification ("RFID") device.

[0014] Other features of the invention should become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment(s) disclosed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an attaching band including a tag, a looped cord, and a crimpable ring.

[0017] FIG. 2 is top plan view of a tag that includes an RFID device according to an embodiment.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment including a product, a tag, and a reader.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the attaching band of FIG. 2 with the looped cord sliding over a side of a sunglasses earpiece.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the attaching band of FIG. 4 with the looped cord in an area of a hinge of the pair of sunglasses.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view the attaching band of FIG. 5, with a crimping tool closing the crimpable ring.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the attaching band of FIG. 6 installed on the pair of sunglasses.

[0023] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example method for attaching a tag that is part of an attaching band to a product according to the invention.

[0024] Unless otherwise indicated, the illustrations in the above figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] In an embodiment of the present invention, as depicted in FIG. 1, a looped cord

10 is coupled to (also referred to as "holds") a tag 12. A crimpable ring 14 is slidably mounted on the looped cord to form the attaching band 16. In one embodiment, the looped cord is a plastic filament. In another embodiment, the looped cord is made from a string. [0026] Referring additionally to FIG. 2, which shows an example embodiment of a tag

12 to which an RFID device 18 is coupled with a looped cord 10. The example RFID device includes a transponder chip 20 and an antenna 22 coupled to the transponder chip. A description of the RFID device is given in United States Patent Application No. 11/642,804, to Forster et al, which was filed on December 20, 2006, the entire specification of which is herein incorporated by reference. According to an embodiment, the looped cord is made of an electrically conductive material and constitutes at least part of the antenna, via electrical coupling, e.g., capacitive coupling, of an RFID device that is present on the tag. The RFID device has different electrical characteristics depending on whether the coupling between the transponder chip and the at least part of the antenna is altered. Referring additionally to FIG. 3, if the looped cord is compromised, e.g., cut and separated from a product 24 to which it was attached, the electrical characteristics of the RFID device will be altered and the alteration communicated to a reader 26 of the RFID signal 28. The RFID device is part of a signal monitoring and detection system 30 whereby the alteration of electrical characteristics leads to an audible signal, e.g., an alarm; a visual signal, e.g., a colored warning light; a message, e.g., a text message; or a combination of above. The attaching band 16 can therefore function as a detection and deterrent device for the prevention of theft. [0027] In yet another embodiment, the tag 12 is a dual security tag that includes RFID and EAS systems. Dual security tags are described in United States Patent Number 7, 109,867 to Forster, which was filed on September 9, 2004, and the entire specification of which is herein incorporated by reference. In an example embodiment, the tag includes a molded plastic housing that encloses an RFID device and an EAS system. [0028] FIG. 4 shows the looped cord 10 sliding over a side of an earpiece 32 of a pair of sunglasses 340. In FIG. 5, the looped cord is in an area of a hinge 36 of the pair of sunglasses and the crimpable ring 14 is slid towards the hinge until there is a tight loop 38 around the hinge. FIG. 6 depicts the crimping of the crimpable ring using a crimping device 40. The crimping device is used to make at least one crimp on the crimpable ring. Two or more crimps may be made side by side if there is uncertainty regarding the strength of one crimp. Any suitable crimping device may be used for crimping the crimpable ring. An example of commercially available crimping device is the crimper tool "TOOL-100" supplied by Artbeads.com of Gig Harbor, Washington. The crimping device has two notches or "stations." The first station, which is farthest from the tip of the device, has a dimple in the middle and is used to squeeze the crimp into a "figure 8" shape. The second station, which is closest to the tip of the tool, is used to fold the crimp and form it into a nice shape. FIG. 7 shows the attaching band 16, an embodiment of the present invention, installed on the pair of sunglasses.

[0029] In another embodiment of the present invention, the attaching band 10 may be installed in a narrowing or a small area or part, for example, the previously discussed hinge 36 of the sunglass frame 34 or a nose rest 42 (see FIG. 4) of the sunglass frame, from where the attaching band cannot be slidably removed or detached after the crimpable ring 14 has been crimped. The examples of the narrowing or small part being the hinge or the nose rest of the sunglass frame are not be construed as limiting examples.

[0030] An exemplary method for attaching a tag 12 that is part of an attaching band 16 to a product 20, e.g., a pair of glasses or sunglasses 34, according to the present invention is illustrated in the flowchart 44 of FIG. 8. After starting the method at step 46, the next step 48 is to provide the attaching band that includes the tag, a looped cord 10 that is coupled to the tag, and a crimpable ring 14 that is slidably mounted on the looped cord (see FIG. 1). Next, at step 50, a product having a narrowing area, e.g., the nose rest 42 or the hinge 36 of a pair of glasses or sunglasses 34, is provided (see FIG. 4). At step 52, a crimping tool 40 is provided (see FIG. 6). Next, at step 54, the looped cord is slid over the product until the looped cord is adjacent to the product's narrowing area (see FIGS. 4 and 5). At step 56, the crimpable ring is slid towards the product's narrowing area until the looped cord is configured into a tight loop 38 around the narrowing area (see FIG. 5). Next, at step 58, the crimping tool is used to crimp the crimpable ring (see FIG. 6). The method ends at step 60 (see FIG. 7). [0031] All of the features disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, and all of the steps in any method or process disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, can be replace by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. [0032] Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined only by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. An attaching band comprising: a. a tag; b. a looped cord that is coupled to the tag; and c. a crimpable ring that is slidably mounted on the looped cord.

2. The attaching band according to claim 1, wherein the looped cord includes an item that is selected from the group consisting of a filament and a string.

3. The attaching band according to claim 1, wherein the looped cord is made of plastic.

4. The attaching band according to claim 1, wherein the tag includes a radio frequency identification ("RFID") device.

5. The attaching band according to claim 4, wherein: a. the looped cord is made of an electrically conductive material; b. the RFID device includes an antenna; and c. the looped cord constitutes at least part of the antenna.

6. The attaching band according to claim 5, wherein: a. the RFID device has an electrical characteristic when the looped cord is coupled to the tag; b. the looped cord is configured to be separated from the tag; and c. the RFID device has another electrical characteristic after the looped cord is separated from the tag.

7. The attaching band according to claim 5, wherein: a. the RFID device has an electrical characteristic when the looped cord is coupled to the tag; b. the looped cord is configured to be cut; and c. the RFID device has another electrical characteristic after the looped cord is cut.

8. The attaching band according to claim 1, wherein the tag is a dual security tag that includes a radio frequency identification ("RFID") device and an electronic article surveillance ("EAS") system.

9. The attaching band according to claim 1, wherein the tag includes a molded plastic housing that encloses a radio frequency identification ("RFID") device and an electronic article surveillance ("EAS") system.

10. A system comprising: a. an attaching band that includes: i. a tag that includes a radio frequency identification ("RFID") device having an antenna and an electrical characteristic, ii. a looped cord that:

A. is coupled to the tag,

B. is made of an electrically conductive material, and

C. constitutes at least a part of the antenna, and iii. a crimpable ring that is slidably mounted on the looped cord; and b. a reader that is configured to: i. sense a change in the electrical characteristic of the RFID device, and ii. generate, after sensing the change in the electrical characteristic of the RFID device, an item selected from the group consisting of an audible signal, an alarm, a visual signal, a warning light, a colored warning light, a message, a text message, and a combination thereof.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the change in the electrical characteristic of the RFID device occurs as a result of an action selected from the group consisting of cutting the looped cord and separating the looped cord from the tag.

12. A method for attaching a tag that is part of an attaching band to a product, the method comprising: a. providing the attaching band that includes: i. the tag, ii. a looped cord that is coupled to the tag, and iii. a crimpable ring that is slidably mounted on the looped cord; b. providing the product where the product has a narrowing area; c. sliding the looped cord over the product until the looped cord is adjacent to the product's narrowing area; d. sliding the crimpable ring towards the product's narrowing area until the looped cord is configured into a tight loop around the narrowing area; and e. crimping the crimpable ring closed.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising providing a crimping device, wherein the crimping device is used to perform the step of crimping the crimpable ring closed.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein: a. the product is a pair of glasses; and b. the narrowing area is selected from the group consisting of a hinge of the pair of glasses and a nose rest of the pair of glasses.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the pair of glasses are a pair of sunglasses.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the tag includes a radio frequency identification ("RFID") device.